58 Swadhin Bangla Betar artistes awarded FF status

Bangladesh government today accorded 58 more artistes of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra to the rank of freedom fighters.

War time popular satire programme 'Charampatra' host MR Akhtar Mukul, filmmaker and actor Shubhash Dutta, singers Timir Nandi and Fakir Alamgir were among those who received the status for their outstanding contribution to boost the morale of the freedom fighters as well as that of the persecuted.

The Liberation War Affairs Ministry issued the order in line with a recent decision by the National Freedom Fighters' Council.

In November last year, 108 artistes of the wartime radio station were granted freedom fighter status.

With the latest, a total of 253 wartime radio artistes have been accorded freedom fighter statuses by the Awami League administration.

Singers of Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra had not only played key roles in inspiring the nation in 1971, but also financially assisted Bangladeshi refugees languishing in India.

The radio centre, which evolved from the Kalurghat transmission centre in Chittagong, was abandoned after Pakistan Airforce shelled it on March 30. It resumed its operations from April 3, 1971 in Tripura of India and finally was shifted to Kolkata on May 25.

The inspirational songs and programmes like “Charampatra” and “Jallader Darbar” would continue to inspire the posterity.